CM to take Tamil literature overseas

Chennai

Chennai, Nov 1

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has issued the order to the Department of Tamil Development to expedite the translation of the classical literary work, Thirukkural, written by Thiruvalluvar, and ensure that it is completed before Pongal that marks the beginning of the Tamil month of ‘Thai’.

Thirukkural, the universal book of wisdom, will get translated into Korean well before Thiruvalluvar Day, which is celebrated in memory of the saint-poet on January 15, a public holiday in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The other works in for translation, as per her order, are Tamil ‘paatti’ Avvaiyar’s Aathichudi and rationalist-poet Bharathidasan’s works into Arabic and Chinese.

Cultural ties
Jayalalithaa had said in an earlier statement, that efforts would be made to get the Thirukkural translated into Korean to strengthen cultural ties and announced an allocation of Rs. 36 lakh. She had also declared that Aathichudi, a treasury of moral values, be translated into Arabic and Chinese.

Team of scholars
The day after her announcement, a team of scholars and linguists under the direct supervision of the Tamil Development Department Secretary M Rajaram, began working to get the exemplary literary works translated. Bharathidasan’s works are almost ready in both Chinese and Arabic and proof-reading is being done currently while a six-member team, comprising multi-lingual experts is on the task of translating the Thirukkural

Literary heritage
•    Tamil ‘paati’ Avvaiyar’s Aathichudi, the treasure trove of moral values, is being translated into Chinese and Arabic. Aathichudi is a popular collection of single-line verses, and is the first thing taught to any child learning the language.
•    The classic Tamil literary work containing 1330 couplets has been translated into several languages, next only to Bhagavad Gita, Bible and Quran.
•    20th century rationalist-poet Bharathidasan’s works are being translated into Chinese and Arabic. The socio-political issues that he highlighted through his writings served as a base for the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu.

CM wants the translation to be completed before Thiruvalluvar day.